World News - Pro-Gun Groups Disagree on Bill Improving Background Checks. NRA continues its history of Compromising and selling out its members who are still under the delusion the NRA is protecting Gun Rights

A Second Amendment group is warning gun owners that a "massive gun control bill" is now working its way through Congress -- and is surprisingly close to becoming law. Gun Owners of America also admits that it is the only national pro-gun group to oppose the "NICS Improvement Act of 2005" (H.R. 1415). Introduced by gun control advocate Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, H.R. 1415 is intended to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which screens would-be gun buyers for mental problems or criminal convictions that would bar them from buying guns. Most background checks are processed through NICS in seconds, but some are delayed if the FBI lacks complete, updated, and automated information from the states. The bill notes that approximately 24 million criminal records are not automated or not accessible to NICS; and another 16 million criminal records are not up to date. Some lack information on whether an arrested person was convicted or acquitted, for example.... http://www.cnsnews.com

The UN's humanitarian chief has accused Israel of "completely immoral" use of cluster bombs in Lebanon. UN clearance experts had so far found 100,000 unexploded cluster bomblets at 359 separate sites, Jan Egeland said. Israel has repeated its previous insistence that munitions it uses in conflict comply with international law. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rebuffed UN chief Kofi Annan's calls for a swift end to Israel's air and sea blockade of Lebanon. After talks with Mr Annan, Mr Olmert said the siege would only be lifted once the ceasefire terms were fully implemented. This included the release of two Israeli soldiers whose capture by Hezbollah militants sparked the conflict. But a Lebanese Hezbollah cabinet minister said there would be no unconditional release of the soldiers - the pair would only be freed as a result of a prisoner exchange with Israel. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5299938.stm

An explosion in the front yard of an apartment complex killed two children and injured six others. Police did not immediately release any information about what caused the explosion Tuesday afternoon. However, resident Marisa Sivesind said she saw some boys playing with what appeared to be a World War II-type artillery shell. The victims ranged in age from 7 to 12 and included four boys and four girls, said police Detective Greg Terry. Sherlicia Owens said her 10-year-old daughter, Tyria Holloway, was among those injured. ...http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2374973

The economy grew at a 2.9 percent annual rate in the spring — better than first estimated but nowhere near the brisk pace logged in the winter, another sign of slowing business growth. Inflation marched higher. The latest snapshot of economic activity, released by the Commerce Department Wednesday, showed that gross domestic product in the April-to-June quarter increased slightly more than the 2.5 percent pace first reported a month ago. That upgrade mostly reflected an improvement in the country's trade picture and stronger inventory building by businesses. The upward revision, though, didn't change the big picture of the economy: In the spring, it slowed sharply from the first quarter's 5.6 percent pace, the strongest growth spurt in 2½ years, as consumers and businesses tightened the belt. ...http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/30/business/main1948746.shtml?source=RSS&attr=U.S._1948746

The United States has issued a visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, despite Washington's row with Tehran over its nuclear programme. Mr Khatami will be one of the most senior Iranian figures to visit the US since diplomatic ties were cut in 1979, apart from officials on UN business. Mr Khatami's visit is being described as private. The US state department said there were no plans for him to meet government officials. Mr Khatami is to give a speech at Washington's National Cathedral on 7 September on the role that Islam, Judaism and Christianity can play in shaping peace. He will also attend a conference at the UN in New York on promoting dialogue. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5298132.stm

The European Commission says it will do more to help EU member states handle large flows of migrants. Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini was replying to a new appeal for help from Spain, which is struggling with an influx by sea from West Africa. The EU launched an operation this month to turn back small boats carrying migrants from Cape Verde, Mauritania and Senegal to the Canary Islands. But Spain says the operation is not big enough and took too long to get going. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said Spain needed "more boats, more planes, more personnel". Mr Frattini said he would ask member states to show more solidarity with Spain, to increase the amount of money available for border control, and to strengthen the "operational capacity" of the new EU border agency, Frontex...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5298668.stm